In 2011-12, the Department of Veterans Affairs operated on an overall $372.7 million budget for all of its various programs, but not all of that went to run the homes and the federal government provided a large share.

Nearly 2 million veterans live in California and 228,500 of them are in San Diego County. Those ranks are expected to swell as the two wars wind down and belt-tightening in the Department of Defense continues.

California operates six veteran homes, including one in Chula Vista. The oldest, in Yountville, opened in 1880. Redding and Fresno homes are scheduled to open this fall.

The average age of the slightly more than 2,000 residents is 79; most are WW II veterans although 104 served during a period of peace.

Applicants must be 55 years old, but the age requirement is waived for the disabled and those who are homeless — the latter must pass a screening test to make sure they do not pose a danger to other residents.

Fees are based on income and level of care they need — the cap ranges from $2,400 to $5,600 monthly. The average veteran in those homes earns less than $24,000 a year. Residents in the older three veteran homes — Chula Vista, Yountville and Barstow — pay on average $51 per day, or $1,518 per month.

One of those is Ruth Adams, 90, who served as a nurse in Germany in the waning days of WW II.

Ruth Adams, a resident of the Chula Vista home, served a nurse during World War II.
— Nelvin C. Cepeda

Ruth Adams, a resident of the Chula Vista home, served a nurse during World War II.
— Nelvin C. Cepeda

Adams, has been a resident at Chula Vista for more than 8 years, passing her days volunteering to help residents take their blood pressure and mending clothes.

Like many, Adams believes the state has an obligation. “We served our time to protect our country,” she said.

Without a place to go, Adams said she probably would have had to live alone in her former mobile home in Spring Valley. “My children don’t have to worry about what happens to mom. That’s very important to me,” she said.

Expanding services

The department has become more aggressive in taking in the homeless. Since September, 63 of the 190 admitted had been living on the streets. The state also has a pilot program in its Barstow home to help formally homeless with counseling, job training and other specialized programs in the hopes of getting them a job and place of their own. At Yountville, the state works with Pathway Homes to provide programs for homeless or those with post-traumatic stress disorder or substance abuse problems.

There are an estimated 16,000 homeless veterans in California. Of those, about 1,750 are in San Diego County, according to federal counts.

Homelessness is just one of the issues. Advocates for veterans say better budget management in the homes division would help improve services on a number of other fronts. For example, there is increased urgency in helping veterans navigate the complex process for federal benefits that often go unclaimed.

Many lawmakers are pushing to provide more funding to provide experts to help veterans apply for benefits, from disability payments to health care. They estimate spending $11 million on extra help could bring in another $400 million in benefits for veterans.